Electric Power Control Apparatus And Grid Connection System Having Same
Abstract:
Provided is an electric power control apparatus which enables surplus electric power from a distributed power supply to be stored in a storage battery in a consumer unit provided with a distributed power supply and a storage battery, and which is characterised in being provided with a value calculation unit which calculates the value of electric power by using a unit value of electricity for sale when charging the storage battery and a unit value of electricity for purchase when discharging from the storage battery.
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Notices, Deadlines & Correspondence
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric power
control apparatus for controlling the connection of an
electrical grid of a commercial power source and a
distributed power source of a consumer dwelling, and a grid
connection system provided with the same.
Background of the Invention
In recent years, power generation devices such as a
photovoltaic power generation device, a fuel cell, a wind
power generation device and a cogeneration device are used
in power consumer dwellings such as houses, factories and
the like. In addition, there is practically available a
grid connection system in which power generation devices are
connected to an electrical grid of a commercial power source
and to be used as distributed power sources. In the grid
connection system, if the electricity power generated by the
distributed power sources cannot be entirely consumed in a
consumer dwelling, the surplus electric power is allowed to
be reversely fed to an electrical grid of a commercial power
source. In a case where the electric power is reversely fed
to the electrical grid, it is sometimes possible to receive
compensation corresponding to the amount of the reversely-
fed electric power from a power supplier that supplies
electric power as a commercial power source.
However, if the reverse power feeding is performed in
the event that the distributed power sources are connected
to the electrical grid, a voltage rise, a frequency change
and a phase advance in the electrical grid may possibly
occur. In particular, these kinds of phenomena easily occur
when the number of distributed power sources connected to an
electrical grid sharing a pole transformer with the
distributed power sources gets increased. Moreover, the
voltage of the electrical grid is more likely to rise as the
distance from the pole transformer to the distributed power
sources grows longer.
In order to avoid the aforementioned problem posed
when the distributed power sources are connected to the
electrical grid, it is obligated to provide a function by
which output control is performed as the voltage of the
electrical grid rises during the reverse power feeding.
There is proposed a technique in which a voltage triggering
output control is set higher as the distance from a pole
transformer to distributed power sources grows longer (see,
e.g., Japanese Patent No. 4266003 (JP4266003B).
The aforementioned phenomena are monitored by the
distributed power sources. If the phenomena occur more
heavily than a specified degree, the reverse power feeding
from the distributed power sources to the electrical grid is
restrained to thereby reduce the influence on the electrical
grid. In the technique disclosed in JP4266003B, the voltage
triggering output control is set differently depending on
the distance from the pole transformer to the distributed
power sources so that the opportunities for the distributed
power sources to perform the reverse power feeding to the
electrical grid can be impartially distributed to the
respective distributed power sources. In other words, the
opportunities for the distributed power sources to sell a
surplus power can be impartially allotted to the distributed
power sources regardless of the distance from the pole
transformer to the distributed power sources.
In the technique disclosed in JP42 66003B, threshold
values are set at the voltage triggering output control.
The threshold values are adjusted depending on the impedance
from the pole transformer to the distributed power sources,
thereby reducing the imbalance in the opportunities for the
reverse power feeding to the electrical grid. Therefore, if
the number of distributed power sources connected to the
secondary side of the pole transformer grows larger in a
crowded area of houses, the difference between the threshold
values which are set with respect to the adjoining
distributed power sources becomes smaller. This requires
high accuracy in setting the threshold values.
In order to set the threshold values stated above, it
is necessary to calculate the impedance between the pole
transformer and the distributed power sources connected to
the secondary side of the pole transformer. For that
reason, when installing the distributed power sources, it is
necessary to acquire the information on the topology of
distribution networks, the distance of wiring lines and the
kind of wiring lines. It is also necessary to acquire the
information on the specifications of the distributed power
sources. In other words, there is a need to manage an
increase amount of information. This leads to an increase
in data management costs.
As set forth above, the technique disclosed in
JP426600 3B poses a problem in that it cannot be implemented
under the condition that the number of the distributed power
sources connected to the secondary side of the pole
transformer is large and the distances between the adjoining
distributed power sources and the electric circuit of the
electrical grid are short.
If the control for restraining the reverse power
feeding is performed depending on the circumstances of the
electrical grid as stated above, the reverse power feeding
to the electrical grid cannot be carried out even when
surplus power is generated in a consumer dwelling. In other
words, the consumer dwelling cannot receive compensation
resulting from the reverse power feeding and, therefore, may
suffer from an economic loss. As a result, the recovery
period of the capital invested in installation of the
distributed power sources is prolonged and the cost-
effectiveness is reduced. This is one of causes weakening
the motivation to adopt the distributed power source.
The reason for performing the output control of the
distributed power source is that electric power is reversely
fed from the distributed power source to the electrical
grid. Therefore, it appears that the problem attributable
to the output control of the distributed power source can be
solved by reducing the reverse power feeding from the
distributed power source to the electrical grid. As a
technique for reducing the reverse power feeding from the
distributed power source to the electrical grid, Japanese
Patent Application Publication No. 2009-2 68247 {JP2 009-
2 68 247A) discloses a method of using a battery in
combination with a distributed power source. In the
technique disclosed in JP2009-268247A, the moving average of
the electric power amount in the past reverse power feeding
is used as a target value of the electric power amount to be
subjected to the reverse power feeding, thereby reducing the
peak value per unit time of the electric power amount when
performing the reverse power feeding.
The use of the technique disclosed in JP2009-268247A
makes it possible for the battery to store the electric
power not to be subjected to the reverse power feeding.
This reduces the economic loss suffered by a consumer
dwelling, as compared with a case where the output control
of the distributed power source is performed.
However, there occurs an economic loss corresponding
to the difference between the unit power price at the time
of performing the reverse power feeding to the electrical
grid and the power purchase price at the time of discharging
and using the charged electric power. Now, it is assumed
that the unit power price in case of reversely feeding
electric power to the electrical grid is 4 8 yen/kWh and
further that the unit power price in case of receiving
electric power from the electrical grid is 2 8 yen/kWh. In
that case, a profit of 4 8 yen per kWh is generated if the
reverse power feeding is performed. Therefore, if the
expense of 2 8 yen is subtracted from 4 8 yen, the actual
profit becomes 20 yen. In the configuration of JP2009-
2 68247A, the electric power of the battery storing the
electric power generated in the distributed power source is
discharged and used. For that reason, the expense of 2 8 yen
per kWh becomes unnecessary. Since, however, the reverse
power feeding is not performed, no profit is generated.
Therefore, as compared with a case where the reverse power
feeding is performed, a loss of 20 yen per kWh is incurred.
JP2009-268247A describes that the electric power
amount reversely fed to the electrical grid is measured and
the value obtained by equally allotting the measured
electric power amount to the distributed power sources of
all the consumers is regarded as an upper limit value when
each of the consumers performs the reverse power feeding.
However, there exists a difference in the electric power
generated by the respective distributed power sources. In
addition, the consumer dwellings consume different amounts
of electric power. This means that there exists a
difference in the surplus powers of the respective consumer
dwellings. For that reason, if the measured electric power
amount is equally allotted to the distributed power sources,
the consumer dwelling having a larger amount of surplus
power suffers a greater loss.
Summary of the Invention
In view of the above, the present invention provides
an electric power control apparatus capable of reducing an
economic loss suffered by a consumer dwelling, enabling a
plurality of consumer dwellings to impartially sell electric
power and reducing the output control of a distributed power
source to thereby operate the distributed power source with
high efficiency.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention,
there is provided with an electric power control apparatus
for use in a consumer dwelling provided with a distributed
power source and a battery. The apparatus configured to
enable a surplus power generated by the distributed power
source to be charged in the battery. The apparatus
includes: a compensation calculating unit configured to
calculate compensation by using a power sale price available
when an electric power is charged in the battery and a power
purchase price available when the electric power is
discharged from the battery.
The apparatus further includes: a voltage detecting
unit configured to monitor a voltage of an electrical grid
of a commercial power source; a surplus power management
unit configured to select a state in which surplus power is
reversely fed to the electrical grid when the voltage of the
electrical grid monitored by the voltage detecting unit is
equal to or lower than a specified threshold value and to
select a state in which the surplus power is not reversely
fed to the electrical grid but is charged in the battery
when the voltage of the electrical grid monitored by the
voltage detecting unit is higher than the specified
threshold value, in a case where the surplus power is
generated in the distributed power source; a first power
acquiring unit configured to acquire an electric power
amount generated from the distributed power source and
charged in the battery; a second power acquiring unit
configured to acquire an electric power amount discharged
from the battery; a power sale price acquiring unit
configured to acquire a power sale price available when
electric power is fed to the electrical grid; and a
power purchase price acquiring unit configured to acquire a
power purchase price available when an electric power is
received from the electrical grid.
The compensation calculating unit is configured to
calculate a loss amount incurred by not reversely feeding
the surplus power while the surplus power management unit
selects the state in which the surplus power is charged in
the battery, as a money amount equivalent to compensation
for reverse power feeding, by using the electric power
amount acquired by the first power acquiring unit during a
period in which the voltage of the electrical grid monitored
by the voltage detecting unit is higher than the specified
"threshold value, the power sale price acquired by the power
sale price acquiring unit when the electric power is charged
in the battery, the electric power amount acquired by the
second power acquiring unit and the power purchase price
acquired by the power purchase price acquiring unit when the
electric power is discharged from the battery.
The compensation calculating unit may be configured to
calculate the compensation by using a difference between the
power sale price available when electric power is charged in
the battery and the power purchase price available when
electric power is discharged from the battery, as a unit
price of the electric power discharged from the battery.
The compensation calculating unit is preferably
configured to calculate compensation for an electric power
amount discharged from the battery, if the power sale price
available when electric power is charged in the battery is
higher than the power purchase price available when electric
power is discharged from the battery.
In accordance with another aspect of the present
invention there is provided with a grid connection system,
including: the electric power control apparatus of any one
of claims 2 to 4 provided in each of a plurality of consumer
dwellings; and a management server configured to, when
surplus powers are generated in two or more of the consumer
dwellings, transmit a command for causing battery charging
through a wide area network to a surplus power management
unit of one of the consumer dwellings which has the smallest
residual power amount of a battery.
With the configuration of the present invention, it is
possible to prevent loss of the profit obtained by the
reverse power feeding and to reduce the economic
disadvantage suffered by the consumer dwelling. It is also
possible to enable a plurality of consumer dwellings to
impartially sell electric power. In addition, if the
reverse power feeding cannot be performed, the electric
power is charged in the battery. This reduces the output
control of the distributed power source, thereby operating
the distributed power source with high efficiency.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The objects and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description of preferred
embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings.
Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing an electric power
control apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention.
Fig. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a grid
connection system in accordance with the embodiment of the
present invention.
Figs. 3A and 3B show a flowchart for explaining the
operation of the electric power control apparatus in
accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.
Figs. 4 A to 4C show a flowchart for explaining the
operation of the grid connection system in accordance with
the embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 5 is a block diagram of an electric power control
apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the
present invention.
Detailed Description of the Embodiments
Embodiments of the present invention will now be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying
drawings which form a part hereof. Identical or similar
parts throughout the drawings will be designated by like
reference symbols and will not be described repeatedly.
Fig. 2 shows the schematic configuration of a grid
connection system for interconnecting a distributed power
source 1 of a consumer dwelling 10 and an electrical grid 2.
A battery 3 is provided in the consumer dwelling 10. The
battery 3 is provided to store at least a part of the
surplus power which is outputted from the distributed power
source 1 but cannot be consumed by an electrical load 4. If
necessary, the battery 3 supplies the electric power to the
electrical load 4. The battery 3 is installed in at least
one of the interior or exterior of the consumer dwelling 10.
The consumer dwelling 10 is connected to a secondary
side of a pole transformer 31 provided in the electrical
grid 2 of a commercial power source (CPS) . Commercial
electric power is supplied from the secondary side of the
pole transformer 31 to a plurality of consumer dwellings 10.
In the embodiment described below, it is assumed that a
plurality of distributed power sources 1 is connected to the
secondary side of a single pole transformer 31 through a
distribution board (DB) 7 and an electricity meter 11. In
the illustrated example, a controller 2 0 provided in the
consumer dwelling 10 can communicate with a management
server 3 0 through an Internet 32 as a wide area network.
The functions of the controller 20 and the management server
30 will be described later.
Fig. 2 shows an example in which a photovoltaic power
generation device is used as the distributed power source 1.
The photovoltaic power generation device includes a solar
cell 5 and a power conditioner 6 for converting a DC voltage
outputted from the solar cell 5 to an AC voltage. The power
conditioner 6 serves also to control the charging and
discharging of the battery 3. The photovoltaic power
generation device is one example of the distributed power
source 1. A power generation device using recyclable
energy, such as a wind power generation device or a small-
sized hydroelectric power generation device, a fuel cell and
a cogeneration device may be used as the distributed power
source 1.
The power conditioner 6 is connected to the
distribution board 7 within which the distributed power
source 1 and the electrical grid 2 are connected to each
other. The electrical load 4 is connected to a breaker (not
shown) arranged within the distribution board 7 and is
supplied with the output of the power conditioner 6 and the
electric power of the commercial power source. In other
words, the commercial power source, the battery 3 and the
solar cell 5 can be used as power sources of the electrical
load 4.
In the consumer dwelling 10, there are provided a
first electricity meter 11 for measuring the electric power
received from the electrical grid 2 of the commercial power
source and the electric power reversely fed to the
electrical grid 2 of the commercial power source and a
second electricity meter 12 for measuring the charged
electric power and the discharged electric power of the
battery 3. A voltage sensor 13 for detecting the voltage of
the electrical grid 2 is arranged near a power receiving
point at which each of the consumer dwellings 10 receives
electric power from the electrical grid 2 of the commercial
power source. The voltage sensor 13 is used to determine
whether or not to reversely feed a surplus power to the
electrical grid 2.
In the consumer dwelling 10, there is also provided a
controller (electric power control apparatus) 20 for
controlling the power conditioner 6 to decide a supply
destination of the electric power outputted from the solar
cell 5. The supply destinations of the electric power of
the solar cell 5 are the electrical load 4 and the
electrical grid 2. It is possible to select one of a case
where the electric power generated by the solar cell 5 is
directly supplied to the supply destinations and a case
where the electric power generated by the solar cell 5 is
first charged in the battery 3 and then supplied to the
supply destinations.
As shown in Fig. 1, the power conditioner 6 is
provided with a switch SW2 for selecting the battery 3 as
the supply destination of the electric power outputted from
the solar cell 5. The electric power outputted from the
solar cell 5 can be supplied to the electrical load 4
through the distribution board 7. The power conditioner 6
is further provided with a switch SW3 for selecting the
supply and non-supply of the electric power of the battery 3
to the distribution board 7. In the illustrated example, a
switch SW4 is provided to enable a user to select a state in
which the electric power of the commercial power source is
charged in the battery 3. However, the switch SW4 is not
essential in the present invention and therefore will not be
described herein. As shown in Fig. 2, a switch SWl for
selecting the reverse power feeding to the electrical grid 2
is provided between the distribution board 7 and the
electricity meter 11.
While a power converter for performing the conversion
between DC power and AC power in the power conditioner 6 is
not shown in Fig. 1, it is necessary to convert a DC voltage
to an AC voltage in the event that the electric power of the
battery 3 or the solar cell 5 is supplied to the
distribution board 7. It is also necessary to convert an AC
voltage to a DC voltage in the event that the electric power
of the commercial power source is charged in the battery 3.
In Fig. 1, for the sake of description of a part for
monitoring the charging and discharging amounts of the
battery 3, the second electricity meter 12 is shown to be
disposed within the power conditioner 6. In reality, as
shown in Fig. 2, the second electricity meter 12 may be
provided separately from the power conditioner 6. The
second electricity meter 12 can measure the amount of
electric charges charged to or discharged from the battery 3
by merely measuring an electric current. It is however
preferable to measure a voltage together with the current,
thereby calculating the electric power charged to and
discharged from the battery 3.
The controller 20 is configured with a processor for
executing programs and a memory. The controller 20 realizes
the below-mentioned functions by executing the programs.
The controller 2 0 includes a voltage detecting unit 21 for
acquiring the output of the voltage sensor 13 to monitor the
voltage of the electrical grid 2. The voltage detecting
unit 21 periodically acquires the output of the voltage
sensor 13 and converts the acquired voltage to a digital
value.
The voltage acquired by the voltage detecting unit 21
is inputted to a surplus power management unit 22. The
surplus power management unit 22 turns the switch SW1 on if
the voltage of the electrical grid 2 monitored by the
voltage detecting unit 21 is equal to or lower than a
specified threshold value. Since the switch SW1 is turned
on in a state that the electric power generated by the solar
cell 5 is supplied to the distribution board 7 through the
power conditioner 6, the surplus power generated by the
solar cell 5 but not consumed by the electrical load 4 is
allowed to be reversely fed to the electrical grid 2.
By turning on the switch SW3, the electric power of
the battery 3 is (converted to AC power and then) supplied
T-o the distribution board 7. Thus the electrical load 4 is
supplied with not only the electric power generated by the
solar cell 5 but also the electric power of the battery 3.
Therefore, if the sum of the electric power generated by the
solar cell 5 and the electric power outputted from the
battery 3 is larger than the electric power consumed by the
electrical load 4, the differential electric power as a
surplus power is reversely fed to the electrical grid 2.
The electric power generated by the solar cell 5 is consumed
by the electrical load 4 prior to the electric power of the
battery 3. Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) control is
performed in the distributed power source 1.
On the other hand, if the voltage of the electrical
grid 2 acquired by the voltage detecting unit 21 is higher
than the threshold value, the surplus power management unit
2 2 turns the switch SW1 off and turns the switch SW2 on.
Consequently, the electric power generated by the solar cell
5 is not fed to the electrical grid 2 but is charged in the
battery 3. In other words, if the voltage of the electrical
grid 2 acquired by the voltage detecting unit 21 is higher
than the threshold value, it is presumed that another
consumer dwelling 10 performs reverse power feeding. In
that case, the electric power generated by the solar cell 5
is not reversely fed to the electrical grid 2. Instead, the
electric power generated by the solar cell 5 is charged in
the battery 3 and is supplied to the electrical load 4.
When the switches SWl and SW3 remain turned on, the
sv/itch SW2 is turned off and the electric power is not
charged to the battery 3. If the electric power supplied
from the battery 3 and the distributed power source 1 is not
large enough to be consumed by the electrical load 4, the
electrical load 4 is supplied with electric power from the
power conditioner 6 and the electrical grid 2 of the
commercial power source.
As set forth above, the on/off operation of the
switches SWl and SW2 is controlled by the surplus power
management unit 22. The on/off operation of the switch SW3
(and SW4) is controlled by a charging/discharging control
unit 2 3 provided in the controller 2 0. The operation of the
charging/discharging control unit 23 is instructed by an
overall operation control unit 2 4. Moreover, the overall
operation control unit 24 issues an instruction to the
surplus power management unit 22.
In other words, the overall operation control unit 24
selects one of an operation of supplying the electric power
generated by the solar cell 5 to the distribution board 7,
an operation of charging the surplus power in the battery 3
and an operation of supplying the electric power charged in
the battery 3 to the electrical load 4. The overall
operation control unit 24 is capable of making
communications with the management server 30 through a
communications unit 25. The overall operation control unit
2 4 notifies the management server 30 of necessary
information and controls the on/off operation of the
switches SW1 through SW4 pursuant to the command supplied
from ■ the management server 30. The overall operation
control unit 2 4 has a function of acquiring the residual
capacity of the battery 3. The battery 3 includes a
microcomputer arranged therein and can provide different
kinds of information to external devices. In other words,
the residual capacity of the battery 3 is measured by the
battery 3 itself and is acquired by the overall operation
control unit 24.
The controller 2 0 includes a first power acquiring
unit 2 6a for acquiring the amount of the electric power
charged in the battery 3 from the solar cell 5 {the
distributed power source 1) and a second power acquiring
unit 26b for acquiring the amount of the electric power
discharged from the battery 3. The controller 20 further
includes a power sale price acquiring unit 29a for acquiring
a unit price of the electric power fed (sold} to the
electrical grid 2 and a power purchase price acquiring unit
2 9b for acquiring a unit price of the electric power
received (purchased) from the electrical grid 2. The power
sale price acquiring unit 2 9a and the power purchase price
acquiring unit 2 9b need to acquire up-to-date information.
It is therefore preferred that the power sale price
acquiring unit 29a and the power purchase price acquiring
unit 29b acquire information from the management server 30
through the communications unit 25.
The controller 20 includes a charged power amount
storing unit 28 for recording the charged power amount
acquired by the first power acquiring unit 26a and the unit
prices of electric power acquired by the power sale price
acquiring unit 29a and the power purchase price acquiring
unit 2 9b. The controller 2 0 further includes a compensation
calculating unit 27 for calculating a money amount
equivalent to the compensation payable when the electric
power is not charged in the battery 3 but is reversely fed
to the electrical grid 2. The compensation calculating unit
27 calculates the money amount by using the charged power
amount and the unit prices of electric power recorded in the
charged power amount storing unit 28.
The information recorded in the charged power amount
storing unit 2 8 will be described later. The compensation
calculating unit 27 calculates, as the money amount
equivalent to the compensation for reverse power feeding,
the amount of loss incurred by not reversely feeding the
surplus power during the time when the surplus power is
charged in the battery 3
Now, description will be made on one operation
example. Described herein is the operation according to the
time course of one day. When the amount of electric power
generated by the solar cell 5 is increased as the altitude
of the sun grows higher and the voltage of the electrical
grid 2 of the commercial power source is equal to or smaller
than the threshold value set by the surplus power management
unit 22, the power conditioner 6 starts its operation. The
AC power outputted from the power conditioner 6 is supplied
to the electrical load 4 through the distribution board 7.
If the output power {generated power} of the solar
cell 5 is larger than the electric power (load power)
consumed in the electrical load 4, the surplus power
corresponding to the difference between the generated power
and the load power is fed to the electrical grid 2. That is
to say, the surplus power is reversely fed to the electrical
grid 2. At this time, the first electricity meter 11
measures the amount of the reversely-fed surplus power as a
sale power amount.
If the reverse feeding of the surplus power is
simultaneously performed by other consumer dwellings 10, it
is sometimes the case that the amount of the electric powers
reversely fed to the electrical grid 2 becomes larger than
the amount of the electric powers received from the
secondary side of the pole transformer 31 and consumed by
the consumer dwellings 10. If such is the case, the voltage
of the electrical grid 2 is increased at the secondary side
of the pole transformer 31.
The controller 20 of each of the consumer dwellings 10
monitors the voltage of the electrical grid 2 in the
vicinity of the power receiving point of each of the
consumer dwellings 10. Thus the controller 2 0 can detect
the increase in the voltage of the electrical grid 2. If
the voltage of the electrical grid 2 exceeds the threshold
value set by the surplus power management unit 22, the
controller 2 0 turns off the switch SWl provided between the
distribution board 7 and the electricity meter 11 and turns
on the switch SW2 provided in the power conditioner 6.
Consequently, the surplus power is not reversely fed to the
electrical grid 2 but is charged in the battery 3. In this
regard, the capacity of the battery 3 is larger than the
amount of the surplus power to be charged for one day.
As the altitude of the sun is lowered while not
performing the reverse power feeding, the solar cell 5
generates a reduced amount of electric power. If the
generated power is smaller than the load power, the
controller 2 0 turns on the switch SW3, thereby causing the
battery 3 to discharge the electric power stored therein.
The electric power discharged from the battery 3 is equal to
the difference between the amounts of the electric power
generated by the solar cell 5 and the demanded load power.
The sum of the amount of the electric power generated by the
solar cell 5 and the amount of the electric power discharged
by the battery 3 is controlled to become equal to the
demanded load power. During the time when the battery 3 can
discharge the electric power, the electric power supplied
from the electrical grid 2 is not used in the electrical
load 4.
In other words, no electric power is received from the
electrical grid 2 and no electric power amount is measured
by the first electricity meter 11. In the meantime, the
second electricity meter 12 measures the amount of electric
power discharged from the battery 3. The electric power
charged in the battery 3 is the surplus power generated in
the past, which could have been fed to the electrical grid 2
at the time of generation thereof. Therefore, the electric
power charged in the battery 3 has an equal value to the
electric power that could have been reversely fed to the
electrical grid 2.
If the load power demanded by the electrical load 4
exceeds the sum of the electric power generated by the solar
cell 5 and the electric power that can be supplied from the
battery 3, the electrical load 4 is supplied with electric
power from the electrical grid 2. Thus, the received
electric power amount is measured by the first electricity
meter 11.
As can be noted from the foregoing description, the
sum of the amount of electric power fed to the electrical
grid 2 and measured by the first electricity meter 11 and
the amount of electric power discharged by the battery 3 and
measured by the second electricity meter 12 is equivalent to
the amount of electric power sold to the electrical grid 2.
In addition, the electric power amount received from the
electrical grid 2 and measured by the first electricity
meter 11 is equivalent to the electric power amount
purchased from the electrical grid 2.
In the operation described above, it is assumed that
the battery 3 is capable of storing daily surplus power. If
the battery 3 is fully charged with the surplus power, the
output of the power conditioner 6 is restrained. This
operation is the same as the operation described in the
Background of the Invention.
If it is assumed that the reverse power feeding to the
electrical grid 2 is performed without charging the battery
3, the amount of the surplus power is equal to the amount of
the electric power measured by the first electricity meter
11 and the electric power measured by the second electricity
meter 12. This is because the first electricity meter 11
measures the reversely-fed surplus power while the second
electricity meter 12 measures the electric power equivalent
to the reversely-fed electric power.
It is now assumed that the unit price (yen/kWh) of the
electric power received from the electrical grid 2 and the
second electricity meter 12 is equal to the difference
between the power purchase price and the power sale price as
shown in Table 2. The reason for using the difference
between the power purchase price and the power sale price
will be described later. The unit price shown in Table 2 is
the compensation for the electric power discharged from the
battery 3. If this unit price is used, the sum of the
compensation payable to the respective consumer dwellings 10
becomes constant regardless of whether the surplus power
generated by the solar cell 5 is reversely fed to the
electrical grid 2 or charged in the battery 3.
If the unit prices of electric power measured by the
first electricity meter 11 and the second electricity meter
12 are set as shown in Tables 1 and 2, the compensation
calculating unit 27 can calculate the compensation for the
purchase and sale of electric power.
Herein, it is assumed that the amount of electric
power charged in the battery 3 and the power sale price
during the charging time are recorded in a corresponding
relationship. For example, it is assumed that the amount of
electric power charged in the battery 3 is recorded as shown
in Table 3.
[Table 3]
In Table 3, the maximum value of the power sale price
is 4 8 yen/kWh and the charged power amount (electric power
amount) corresponding to the power sale price is 3200 Wh.
Therefore, the charged power amount is set at "3200 Wh" in
the second power acquiring unit 2 6b for monitoring the
discharged power amount measured by the second electricity
meter 12. It is now assumed that only 100 Wh of the
electric power charged in the battery 3 is discharged and
the unit price of the electric power received from the
electrical grid 2 during the discharging time is 2 0 yen/kWh.
The difference between the unit price of the electric power
received from . the electrical grid 2 and the unit price of
the surplus power fed to the electrical grid 2 is 2 8 yen/kWh
i=AQ yen - 2 0 yen). Therefore, when 100 Wh of the electric
power is discharged, the payable compensation calculated is
2.8 yen/kWh (-28 yen/kWh xO.l kWh).
In the configuration described above, the first
electricity meter 11 and the second electricity meter 12 are
provided independently of each other because they have
different functions. Alternatively, the first electricity
meter 11 and the second electricity meter 12 may be provided
within a single housing.
The charging/discharging operation of the battery 3
will be described with reference to Figs. 3A and 3B. When
no electric power is charged to and discharged from the
battery 3, the controller 20 turns off the switches SW2 and
SW3 to stop a charging/discharging process (SI).
As set forth earlier, the controller 2 0 performs an
operation of charging the battery 3 in a case where it is
impossible to reversely feed electric power to the
electrical grid 2. When charging the battery 3, the surplus
power management unit 22 turns on the switch SW2 to start an
operation of charging the battery 3 (S2), At this time, the
charging/discharging control unit 23 keeps the switch SW3
turned off and the power sale price acquiring unit 29a
acquires power sale price (S3). The power sale price
acquired by the power sale price acquiring unit 29a is set
in the first power acquiring unit 26a (S4).
Thereafter, the first power acquiring unit 26a
measures the charged power amount charged in the battery 3
(S5). If the power sale price is not changed (S6) until the
charging operation is stopped (S7), the first power
acquiring unit 2 6a records the charged power amount and the
power sale price in the charged power amount storing unit 28
after the charging operation is stopped (S8) . On the other
hand, if the power sale price is changed (S6) before the
charging operation is stopped
Documents
Application Documents
#
Name
Date
1
3372-Kolnp-2012-(05-11-2012)TRANSLATED COPY OF PRIORITY DOCUMENT.pdf